Shelf.



No. 663,784. Patented Dec. ll, I900. A. D. PORTER.

SHELF.

(Application filed Apr. 20, 1900.)

(No Model.)

ATENT FFICE.

ARTHO D. PORTER, OF NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHELF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,784, dated December 11, 1900. Application filed April 20, 1900. Serial No. 13,569. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHO D. PORTER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Norwood, Norfolk county, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shelves; and 'my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full, clear, and exact description, terminating with claims particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to furniture, and more especiallyto devices therein known as drawer-guides, and the object of the same is to produce an improved shelf movably and removably supported by brackets, as at the inside of a Window-sill, for the reception of flower-pots and the like.

To this end the invention consists more particularly in an improved form of connection between the guide and the shelf proper and in improved connections between the guide and bracket, all as hereinafter more fully described and as shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective View of one form of bracket and guide, the latter being raised off of the former. Fig. 2 is a plan view of these parts connected and with the guide moved for a short distance outward on the track. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of these parts, showing the guide raised and the lip of the nearer finger passing under the innermost lug. Fig. at is a plan view of a modified type of the device, omitting one bracket and with one corner of the shelf broken away. Fig. 5 is a section on the line A A of Fig. 4:.

In the drawings, 1 is a narrow bracket, whose feet 2 are adapted for attachment to an upright support in any suitable manner. Projecting from the lower portion of the upper foot is a horizontal track3, which (in the preferred type shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3) is a flat strip extending from the outer end of the bracket inward along its upper edge and having a neck 4 of reduced width between the inner end of the track and the foot 2. Be-

neath the track, near its outer end, are pairs of lugs 5 and 6.

The guide 10, which coacts with a track of this type, comprises a flat body having at its inneredge longitudinally-slotted ears 11, upon which the shelf 12 is secured by means of screws 13, and the body preferably has upon its upper face lugs 14, against which the edge of the shelf may strike, as best seen in Fig. 4. In the modified type of guide its outer edge 15 is turned upward or flanged, while in the preferred type of guide there are flanges 15 depending from both edges. The inner ends of these flanges terminate in fingers 16, projecting beyond the inner end 17 of the body, with their upper faces on a line lower by the thickness of the track 3 than the lower face of the body if it were continued, and these fingers haveinwardly-projectinglips 18, whose inner edges are separated a distance wider than the neck 4, but less than the Width of the track 3. While a shelf of any suitable length may be secured upon a number of these guides (with or without the lugs 14:) and may extend completely over and beyond them, if desired, there are usually two guides, with the edges of the shelf resting against the lugs 14 and the screws 13 passing upward through the slotted ears 11 into the shelf, as will be clear. Two brackets are attached to a suitable support in parallelism and at proper distance apart. The shelf is applied thereto by bringing it, with its guides, into position above the brackets, as seen in Fig. l, and then moving it downward, so that the lips 18 pass astride the necks 4 and the flanges 15 rest against the edges 9 of the track, and the shelf is supported by the resting of the bodies 10 of the guides on the tracks 3. When the shelf is drawn forward, the lips 18 slide in under the edges of the tracks and the flanges 15 move by them and lugs 5 limit the forward movement of the lips. However, by raising the shelf, as seen in Fig. 3, the lips can be passed under the lugs 5 and the shelf and guides carried still farther forward until the lips strike the lugs 6. By again raising the shelf the lips can be passed under the lugs 6 and the parts disconnected, as will be clear.

In the modified type of this device the guides are attached to and project beyond the edges of the shelf, and two brackets are mounted on a support and properly spaced, as above described. Each bracket here has a raised edge 90 along the outer side of the track, and this edge may carry a second and inwardly-projecting track above the main IOO track 3. The flange 15 of the guide travels against the raised edge 90, which latter may be slotted, as at 50, for the reception of a setscrew 60, passing loosely through the slot and either screwing into the flange of the track or passing loosely through the latter and screwing into the shelf. If there be no such screw, the two tracks form a channeled rail for the flanged guide and the latter can be adjusted therein or drawn completely out its front end. If there be no upper rail, the engagement of the shank of the screw with the slot prevents tilting of the shelf and limits the outward movement thereover, and by tightening the screw the shelf can be locked at any desired point or by withdrawing the screw the shelf can be removed. It is obvious, however, that either the upper track or the screw and slot must be used if it is desired to prevent tilting of the shelf, and in the drawings I have shown both devices as employed. a

The parts are of any desired sizes, shapes, and materials, although the shelf is preferably of wood and the other parts'of metal. The invention is useful under all circumstances Where a shelf is desired which is movable or removable with respect to an upright support. Each guide is of the same total length as its track and when closed thereover abuts at its inner end against the uppermost foot 2, so as to avoid injury to the upright support.

What is claimed as new is 1. A bracket-supported horizontal track; combined with a guide resting thereon, means for preventing lateral displacement and for permitting longitudinal adjustment of the parts, longitudinally-slotted ears projecting laterally from the guide, and lugsrising from its top, a shelf resting upon the ears and with its edge against said lugs, and screws passing through the slots into the shelf.

2. A bracket-supported horizontal track; combined with a guide having a flat body resting thereon and a flange sliding against its edge, means for limiting the relative longitudinal adjustment of these members, lugs rising from the top of the guide, ears projecting from its body away from said lugs, and a shelf fastened upon the ears with its edge against said lugs.

3. A bracket having a foot adapted for attachment to an upright support, and a flat track projecting horizontally from the lower portion of said foot; combined with a guide having a flat body resting on the track and of substantially the same length, depending side flanges engaging the edges of the track, .means for limiting the outward movement of the-guide on the track and permitting its disconnection therefrom, and a shelf or-drawer supported by the guide.

4. A Joracket supported flat horizontal track having lugs beneath its body near its outer end; combined witha shelf-supporting guide having a body resting on the track and depending side flanges engaging itsedges, fingers projecting longitudinally from the flanges astride the track, and lips projecting from the fingers-inward beneath the edges of the track and adapted to strike said lugs.

5. A narrow bracket supported on edge, a flat horizontal track whose edges project laterally beyond the web of the bracket, and two pairs of lugs near the outer end of and beneath the track; combined with a shelfsupporting guide having a body resting on the track and depending side flanges engaging its edges, fingers projecting longitudinally from the lower portion of the inner ends of the flanges astride the track, and lips projecting from the fingersinward beneath the edges of the track and adapted to strike said lugs when the guide is drawn outward.

6. A bracket supported flat horizontal track having a narrow neck at its inner end;

combined with a shelf-supporting guide having a flat body resting on the track and depending side flanges engaging its edges, fingers projecting from the inner ends of said flanges astride the track, and lips projecting from the fingers toward each other and of less length than the length of said neck, the inner edges of the fingers being farther apart than the width of the neck but closer together than the width of the track.

7. A bracket supported fiat horizontal track having a narrow neck at its inner end and lugs beneath its body near its outer end; combined with a shelf-supporting guide having a flat body resting on the track and depending side flanges engaging its edges, fingers projecting from the inner ends of said flanges beyond the inner end of the body and astride the track, and lips projecting from the fingers toward each other-and of less length than the length of said neck, the inner edges of the fingers being farther apart than the width of the neck but closer 'together than the width of the track or of the lugs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature this the 16th day of April, A. D. 1900.

ARTHO D. PORTER.

Witnesses:

JOHN STOWE, OSCAR S. BAILEY. 

